It’s clear that COVID-19 death prevention should be focused on our most vulnerable population in nursing homes using facts, science, and data and Whitmer’s administration is failing to do so.
May 26, 2020
Gov. Whitmer’s Neglect of Nursing Home Data and Protection Strategy Is Alarming
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration still hasn’t released the state’s COVID-19 nursing home and long-term care facilities data. Nearly two weeks ago, Whitmer’s Dept. of Health and Human Services Director said the state’s nursing home data was not accurate and “undercounted.”
According to a new analysis from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, 42 percent of COVID-19 deaths nationwide are associated with nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Michigan’s percentage is unknown due to a lack of reporting.
A day after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a third executive order (2020-95) on nursing homes, the Traverse City Record-Eagle Editorial Board wrote that Whitmer’s “COVID ‘hub’ system is a disaster waiting to happen.” This weekend, the Record-Eagle reported on new COVID-19 positive patients being transferred into a regional hub in the area:
The hubs were established to offer “load balancing” support to hospitals that otherwise might be overrun, said Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Health and Human Services during a previous interview.
In Michigan, traditional hospitals have closed, field hospitals were closed, and many hospital systems have laid-off staff while the Whitmer administration continues the ‘hub’ system and as of today still has not released nursing home data.
Gov. Whitmer and the state’s Chief Medical Executive Joneigh Khaldun have both said they are following “facts,” “science,” and “data.” How can Michiganders take that statement seriously if the state doesn’t have data on the most vulnerable population to COVID-19?
The Whitmer administration has known for weeks the importance of publicly releasing the number of COVID-19 related deaths statewide in nursing homes and it’s alarming that they’ve failed to do so. It’s clear that COVID-19 death prevention should be focused on our most vulnerable population in nursing homes using facts, science, and data and Whitmer’s administration is failing to do so. – Tori Sachs, executive director of Michigan Rising Action.